Brereton Jewellers to expand with purchase of Grafton Street premises

ONE of Ireland’s longest-established jewellers is to expand in Dublin, through the acquisition of a key Grafton Street premises.

John Brereton Jewellers — which opened its first shop on Dublin’s Capel Street in 1916 — has acquired the four-storey premises at number 33, Grafton Street, for an undisclosed sum, thought to be in the region of €5 million.

The building is significant, as it has always housed a jewellers business. It was most recently home to West Jewellers — one of the capital’s oldest such businesses, having started trading in the early 1700s — which went out of business and closed its doors last year.

Brereton’s still operates its flagship store on Capel Street and has further outlets on O’Connell Street and Chatham Street. The new store will employ 10 full- time staff, although it is unclear whether these are entirely new jobs or will be transfers from the existing shops.

It is anticipated that — following significant refurbishment work on the premises — the new shop, which will measure 140sq metres within the 200sq metre building, will open in late 2011. It will trade under the John Brereton Jewellers name.

The head of the new store, Paul Brereton, said that management is “thrilled” with the expansion opportunity and is looking forward to occupying “a fine jewellery retail shop in Ireland’s premier high street”.

“I’m proud that an Irish business is moving in, once again, to take centre stage,” he added.

“The store will have a unique offering for our customers, with a diamond showroom on the first floor and designer silver jewellery on the lower ground floor,” Mr Brereton went on to explain.